Just like all communities, Jews have certain customs that they observe when they are burying a loved one. The strictness of the customs observed normally depends on whether the family of the deceased are radical Jews or conservative Jews. The customs carried out at a Jewish funeral are meant to provide respect to the dead person as well as the mourners.
Burial is normally carried out within a day when a person dies. The burial may be postponed for another day or two, so as to wait for any close family member who has to travel from a far place to attend the burial. It's totally up to the family to decide whether the burial should be postponed or whether it should go ahead as required by custom.
Open caskets are not allowed at memorial services. The casket chosen should be simple and totally biodegradable. This means that it should be made purely out of wood. Even nails are not allowed, as they are metallic and can't decompose.
For the process of decomposition to take place naturally, embalming is not allowed. However, since Jewish customs are subject to local laws, it may be necessary to have the body embalmed. This is so as to satisfy the public health regulations set by the local council.
The memorial service should be completed within a few minutes. Flowers are not allowed, though some Rabbi's may make exceptions. Mourners are not allowed to greet the attendees until after the ceremony has been completed. Mourners accompany the deceased to their final resting place.
When leaving the graveside, attendees at a Jewish funeral form a double line facing each other. The mourners pass in the middle and receive consolation messages from others. Any kind words of comfort are offered at this time. Mourners may symbolically wash their hands before leaving the cemetery as a sign of cleansing.
